Therapeutic apparatus



April 23, 1929. G, FABYAN 1,710,049

THERAPEUTI G APPARATUS Filed Sept 4, 1926 Tim ETME' gfia Gear 6 Ftya/z Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

GEORGE FAIBYAN, OF GENEVA, ILLINOIS.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

Application filed September 4-, 1926. Serial No. 133,534.

This invention relates to a therapeutic apparatus and particularly to a method and attendant apparatus which is ellective in preventing nausea and other undesirable disturbances resulting from a reversal of the normal peristaltic etl ect which :tunctions to bring about a proper lllOVOlllGllll of i'naterial through. the body and upon which the proper functioning of many important organs, such as for example, the stomach and intestines, is largely dependent.

Control of the peristaltic action in the human system is recognized as residing in the pneumogastric nerve and since branches of this nerve comn'iunicate with the various organs or sense, unpleasant sensations communicated to these organs often result in a reversal of the normal peristalsis which produees nausea and other undesirable etlects and symptoms. It of course follows that reverse peristalsis also results in improper elimination from the intestinal tract and various serious disorders incident thereto.

By the present invention, a specific embodiment of which will be described hereinafter for purposes of illustration, I am able to correct the reverse peristaltic action and thus overcome and prevent nausea and many disorders resulting from a reversal or improper 30 functioning of the peristaltic action.

My invention has further proven of value in correcting improper functioning of the intestinal tract and other organs over which the pneumogastric nerve and its branches exercise control.

Briefly my invention consists in the application of a ditl'ercntial electric pressure to the exterior of the body in such a mannor as to normalize the polarity of certain extremities of the nervous system which have been so atlected to bring about a reversal ot the normal action of organs con trolled thereby. For purposes of illustration, I have shown on the drawings a simple term of apparatus which may be conveniently used in the practice of therapeutic methods taught by my invention,

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation diagrammatically illustrating an application of the method and apparatus of this invention to the human body.

Figure 2 is a plan. view of an electrode adapted for connection to the human head.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view oil the electrode adapted to be attached to the foot.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4l of Figure 3. a

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 I have shown a form of apparatus adapted to the practice of the method of this irwontion as it may be applied to a patient tor treatment of nausea or other undesirable etlects resulting from a reversal of normal peristalsis controlledby the pneumogastric nerve. In this drawing, an electrode 2 is shown secured in contact with the forehead of a patient by means of any suitable adjustable strap 3, a conductor l being connected to said electrode and to the positive terminal of a source oi electrical energy such as a storage battery The connection of said conductor 4 to the positive terminal of the storage battery is preferably a variable one as indicated at 6 in order that the applied voltage may be varied and a controlling switch 7 may also be provided if desired for controlling the tlow of current through. the conductor 4 The negative terminal ot the storage battery 5 is connected through a conductor 8 with a metallic electrode 9 which may be convcmiently held in cont-act with the bottom of the patients feet by adjustable shoes or slippers 10. My experin'ients have indicated that it is important to have the electrodes constructed of a single metal rather than an alloy in order to prevent the unclesirable effect of thermocouples. It is, of course, evident that the polarity of the con nections to the electrodes may be reversed as the conditions of treatment may demand. For example, it n'right sometimes be desirable to increz se the etlect ot the reverse peristaltics or the polarity ot the patient might be such as to require such a reversal.

In practicing the method and apparatus of this invention, I have :tound that an application thereof in the manner described herein has definitely resulted in the prevention oi? morning sitnness during pregnancy and I have further tound that cases of nausea due to unpleasant sensations being transmitted from the organs oil. sense to the pneumogastric nervous system may be prevented or cured. Clinical tests of this apparatus and. method have further proven that it may be employed to advantage in increasing the normal peristaltic action to bring about proper elimination :trom the intestinal tract both of gaseous and solid matter.

It will be apparent that the applications of the method and apparatus of this invention are manifold and that varying conditions Will require Varying methods of use in accordance with the spirit of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the 5 patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

The combination with a battery and connecting conductors of a therapeutic appli- GEORGE FABYAN. 

